River can keep winners flowing for Keatley

Adrian Keatley has his string in sensational form and his Indian River can make it three from three over obstacles in the Paxtons No1 CaseIH Dealer Handicap Hurdle at Sedgefield on Sunday.

Remarkably, the Ryedale handler's last seven runners in Britain have all been victorious and while the winning run is going to come to an end sooner or later, it would appear foolish to go against his solitary runner in County Durham given his credentials.

The four-year-old only had two runs on the Flat in Ireland, finishing just outside the places in two big field maidens for John Joseph Murphy.

He won on good ground on his hurdling debut at Catterick in November and then a month later was up to carrying a penalty in more testing conditions at Wetherby.

Indian River takes on older horses for the first time on his handicap debut and with Keatley likely to have an eye on the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival, he really needs to be winning and winning well from an opening mark of 117 to give himself a chance of making the trip to Prestbury Park in March.

La Zoubida can make the most of having her sights lowered in the Happy Birthday Rebecca Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

Nicky Richards considered this six-year-old good enough to run in a Grade Two bumper at Aintree last spring and while she came up short that day, she made a fine start to her career over obstacles by winning here in November and at Kelso the following month.

She again appeared to have her limitations exposed in Listed company at Haydock on her latest outing, but she did look a little out of sorts that day and a return to calmer waters should see her in a better light.

Kazar Forez has an obvious chance in the Fairlight Studio Happy New Year Novices' Handicap Hurdle.

Micky Hammond's French recruit showed a decent level of ability in his homeland, running well at Auteuil on a couple of occasions, but finished out with the washing on his first couple of starts in Britain.

However, after being dropped to a mark of 94, he was well supported in the market at Newcastle last month and rewarded favourite-backers with an assured success.

With confidence buoyed and Brian Hughes on his back, he should be involved in the finish once again.

Delgany Deadline is not one of Dan Skelton's brighter lights, but he might have enough about him to win a race like the Michael & Fred Watson Handicap Chase.

Not sighted in maiden and novice company over hurdles, the Blue Bresil gelding then filled the runner-up spot on his handicap debut off a lowly mark off 78.

He then finished a creditable fourth on his return from seven months off the track at Chepstow in November, but then looked outpaced at Market Rasen on his first start over fences.

There is a suspicion this track too might be a bit quicker than ideal, but hopefully the step up to an extended 5200m will counteract that possible negative and this is not a race that will take a great deal of winning. - Press Association

SELECTIONS:

NAAS: Race 1 - 14.55 Lynches Knock, Race 2 - 15.25 Glen Kiln, Race 3 - 15.55 Did I Ask You That, Race 4 - 16.25 Peaceinthevalley, Race 5 - 16.55 Doctor Elvis, Race 6 - 17.25 Argento Boy, Race 7 - 17.55 Bridie's Beau.

SEDGEFIELD: Race 1 - 15.40 Rehill Relic, Race 2 - 16.10 La Zoubida, Race 3 - 16.40 Kazar Forez, Race 4 - 17.10 INDIAN RIVER (NAP), Race 5 - 17.40 Delgany Deadline, Race 6 - 18.10 Livano Bello.